Walter i



W. I. KIRK.

NUT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATIOH men APR. 4, 1917.

Patented June 24, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LYON & HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

NUT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Continuation of application Serial No. 98,528, filed May 19, 1916. This application filed April 4, 1917.

' Serial No. 159,669.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVALTER I. KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain ne\ and useful Improvement in Nuts for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica tion.

My invention relates to nuts for musical instruments.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and effective form of such nut.

Another object of the invention is to' arrange to lift the strings higher than they would be lifted by the ordinary nut, so as to permit what is commonly known as Hawaiian playing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which will permit the easy and inexpensive manufacture of the de- Vices in large quantities. v

Another object is to arrange for the use of a metallic nut instead of a wooden nut,

either in connection with or without the ordinary wooden nut.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a. perspective View 0 the end portion of a guitar neck having a nut embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the portion of said guitar containing the nut;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 33 in Fig. 2;

F ig. 4 is a longitudinal View and Fig. 5 an end view of a modified form of device;

Fig. 6 is a view of a further modification.

In the accompanying drawings I show the neck 1 of a guitar and strings 2-2 mounted on the same. The strings are tuned by pegs 3 of the usual form. The strings 2 are extended over a string nut embodying my invention which nut in the form shown comprises the usual wood or ebony nut 4 and a metallic member 5 mounted thereon. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the member 5 is made in the form of a clip of substantially the same length as the nut 3, but with thickened end portions 66 which rest upon the end portions of the nut 4 and thereb cause the string surface 7 of said clip to substantially above the top surface of said nut 4. Side flanges or wings 8-8 extend down on opposite sides of the nut 4 so as to prevent crosswise movement or slippage of the clip 5. The clip 5 is provided with grooves 9-9 for the strings.

Thus it will be seen that the clip 5 may be placed upon the usual nut 4 or upon a nut of more or less the usual form and when so placed in position it will raise the strings 2 a substantial or appreciable amount above the position in which they would ordinarily rest, if they were lying upon the nut 4. It will be further noted that the clip or nut member 5 does not rest at all upon the guitar neck but rests entirely upon the nut or base member 4 and therefore can be easily applied to and removed from said nut or base member 4 and the position of the strings will be determined by the thickness of the portions 6-6 which may always be definitely known and determined so that there will be no inaccuracy or other disadvantage because of the clip member resting upon the guitar neck, and the members 4 being of different heights in different instruments.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show a modified form of metallic clip or member 10 which is adapted to set in arecess or groove formed in the guitar neck, thus dispensing entirely with the nut 4 and providing an all metallic nut which may be used in place of the ordinary nut 4 to support the strings in the usual position or may be of such size as to support the strings in an elevated position for Hawaiian playing.

In Fig. 6 I show another modification in which the clip 11 is adapted to fit upon the top surface of a nut 4 and is provided with downwardly extending side members 12 and 13 which are adapted to fit into small grooves or recesses in the side of the nut 4 so as to hold said clip member 11 in proper position. This form of device is illustrated in an application filed b me May 19, 1916, Serial No. 98,528, of which application this present application is a substitute and a continuation. I

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A nut for stringed instruments comprising a clip member adapted to fit over and to be supported by a projection on the instrument. V

2. A nut for stringed instruments comprising a clip member having thickened portions adapted to rest upon the top of a nut like projection on the instrument and serve as supports for said member.

3. A nut for stringed instruments comprising a clip member havin thickened portions adapted to rest upon the top of a nutlike projection on the instrument and serve as supports for said member, and side portions extended down so as to reach part way down th side of said nut-like projection.

4. A nut for stringed instruments comprising a base member mounted on the instrument and a clip member supported by anddetachably secured to the base member.

5. A nut for stringed instruments comprising an elongated member with a substantially flat top provided with grooves for the strings and side flanges extending downward at substantially right angles to said top.

6. A nut for stringed instruments c0-mprising an elongated member with a substantially fiat top provided with grooves for the strings and side flanges extending clownwardly at substantially right angles to said top, and end portions extending downwardly from the opposite ends of said top.

7. A nut for stringed instruments comprising a base and a cap or cover piece of material harder than the base, the latter being provided with transversely arranged grooves for the strings and being fitted closely upon the upper portion of the base.

8. A clip for stringed instruments comprising a metallic casing adapted to fit over and cover the upper portion of a nut on the instrument, and so form an elevated surface 'for the strings, said clip being adapted to rest upon and b supported by said nut.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of February A. D. 1917.

WALTER I. KIRK.

WVitnesses:

A. L. JONES, O. M. WERMICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

